Self Portrait, Oil Pastel on Mexican Bark Paper, 15 3/8 x 23 3/8" My works fall into five basic categories; Visual Metaphors for ideas I want to express (i.e. "Surreal"), Dream Images, Figure, Nature and Seasonal. My Visual Metaphor works feature a combination of symbolic images used to express complex ideas and/or feelings. Frequently recurring symbols used in these works include elephants, salmon, goldfish, bones, and cosmic images. As a lover of Nature, plants, animals and minerals that appeal to my intuitive self, inspire some of my works. Inspirations from the world around me include exotic flowers, marine life, driftwood, rocks, ancient pictographs and people. Most of my works begin with a sudden mental image of an idea, dream or object that appeals to me. Once inspired, I then search for the methods and materials to best express that image. This has led me to learn about, and develop skills in, a growing number of techniques and media. Watercolor, pastels, hand made papers as well as various oil and drawing media are among the materials I currently use. Personal experiences have reinforced my belief that life is a transient, and precious, gift. As I continue to grow and evolve as a person, so do my artistic expressions.